I never imagined I’d be running a marathon so soon postpartum.
But it brought me benefits I didn’t know I needed.
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Luckily, my daughter Ada arrived without any major complications.
But I was far from my normal self.
Id wistfully watch runners fly by during our walks.
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They seemed like part of a former life that was no longer my reality.
I was constantly asking myself, How does this feel?Have I peed myself?
Is there too much pressure on my pelvic floor?
Why are my boobs bouncing so much?
But I didnt want to stop.
I hadnt realized just how much of a mental toll it had taken to constantly be on call.
Even after I was done running, the feeling stayed with me.
She suggested fitting in at least one speed work day, one long run, and some strength-training.
The best approach is meeting your body where its at, Hot said.
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You may have been a big runner before, but your bodys changed.
You cant look back and think, I used to be able to do this.
Yet I still found myself frustrated by how slow I was.
But after that first giddy run, fatigue set in, and things grew harder.
Running began to feel like a foreign movement.
Id also lost the power and oomph behind my push off.
She ended up dropping out of that race around the 20 kilometer mark due to a hip injury.
Before, I could never pee myself.
Now, oh, its so easy.
But she told me that running had taken on new meaning for her.
Im running with a purpose now, she said.
I want to be a strong athlete to teach my daughter how to be a strong woman.
Youll realize soon that they dont do what you tell them, but they do exactly what you do.
I made a point toinclude hillsat least once a week to get my glutes firing.
I added more lower abs, glute, and hamstring exercises to my strength routine, andplyometrics.
I also prioritized warming up before every run with at least a few minutes of drills.
My gait got smoother again, even if the miles took longer than they used to.
As I got to the peak of my training, though, a funny thing happened.
But those long runs were no longer the highlight of my week the way they used to be.
Tuliamuk had warned me about this.
I ended up feeling torn this way even during the race itself.
I wanted to show her all the things I loved about the place Id called home for 16 years.
Instead I was out there running to the point of exhaustion.
How was she doing?
Were the crowds too loud for her?
Would she smile when she saw me?
It turned out she was just dandy.
A mile later, I hopped into a bodega to grab a can of Ginger Ale.
Before I could pay, a stranger bought it for me so I could get back out there.
I downed it as fast as I could whilepower walking.
Celebrate what youve done.
Just before mile 21 in the Bronx, I saw two spectators signs that hit me hard.
One said, Remember Your Why and the other said, Do Epic Shit.
What was my why?
To feel like myself again, yes.
Ive never had a large chest before, and cant handle the feeling of my boobs bouncing around.
(Im addicted to the bounciness.)
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